The Lower Class Habitus of the WWE

A WWE fan values getting and seeing what they are expected to see, and the over-the-top dramatics and spectacular, pre-planned fighting that serves as a form of entertainment. The habitus, or how an individual or group of similar individuals think based on a certain taste, of a WWE fan is one of little taste in that they are so easily entertained by fake and dramatic fighting between two aesthetically built persons. They enjoy the over-the-top and acting that WWE wrestlers put on, despite knowing that the whole fight is a scam and predetermined; however, knowing the outcome of what they are about to see is what keeps them entertained. The WWE suggests such a habitus by having each fight staged in that the wrestlers aren’t actually wrestling, but rather performing to fit the preconceived notions and desires of the audience. The wrestlers are simply just going through the motions that have been practiced before “performing” in front of a drama-thirsty working class audience. Furthermore, the over-the-top introductions by the wrestlers and the crazy speeches and dramatic throwing of the opponent into the audience adds to the whole facade that the WWE has created, and embeds this habitus into the fans of WWE. In my opinion, WWE’s cultural capital is one of a lower class individual that seeks entertainment in the art of performing and acting in a dramatic and artificial way. My experience provides support to my opinion as attending a WWE event in the fourth grade with some friends, I noticed how everyone seemed to be from the lower class in the way the looked and spoke, and everyone was ecstatic over two strong people fake fighting.

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